Transparent Film and Intermediate Transfer Belt Having Multilayered Structure Using the Same

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a transfer belt for an image forming apparatus comprising (A) a base layer comprising a thermoplastic resin; and (B) a surface layer comprising a thermoplastic resin composite in which carbon nanotubes are dispersed, wherein the surface layer is laminated on one side of the base layer. The transfer belt for an image forming apparatus can have high surface electrical resistance, resistance homogeneity, homogeneous electrical conductivity, and good mechanical properties.

1 . A transfer belt for an image forming apparatus comprising (A) a base layer comprising a thermoplastic resin; and (B) a surface layer comprising a thermoplastic resin composite comprising carbon nanotubes dispersed therein. 
     
     
         2 . The transfer belt of  claim 1 , wherein said surface layer (B) comprises about 95 to about 99.9% by weight of a thermoplastic resin and about 0.1 to about 5% by weight of carbon nanotube. 
     
     
         3 . The transfer belt of  claim 2 , wherein said carbon nanotubes have a diameter of about 0.5 to about 100 nm, a length of about 0.01 to about 100 μm, and an aspect ratio of about 100 to about 1,000. 
     
     
         4 . The transfer belt of  claim 1 , wherein said thermoplastic resin of said base layer and said surface layer independently comprises a polyolefin resin, polyacetal resin, acrylic resin, polymethacrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, styrenic resin, polyester resin, polyphenylene ether resin, polyarylate resin, polyamide resin, polyarylsulfone resin, polyetherimide resin, polyethersulfone resin, vinylidene fluoride resin, polysulfone resin, liquid crystal polymer resin, a copolymer thereof or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The transfer belt of  claim 4 , wherein said thermoplastic resin further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of reaction stabilizers, transesterification inhibitors, UV absorbing agents, thermal stabilizers, antioxidants, flame retardants, lubricants, pigments, dyes, inorganic fillers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The transfer belt of  claim 1 , wherein said transfer belt has a surface electrical resistance of about 1×10 8  to about 1×10 12  Ω/sq, when a voltage of about 100 to about 250 V is applied. 
     
     
         7 . The transfer belt of  claim 1 , wherein said transfer belt has a thickness of about 50 to about 150 μm. 
     
     
         8 . The transfer belt of  claim 7 , wherein said surface layer (B) has a thickness of about 0.2 to about 30 μm. 
     
     
         9 . The transfer belt of  claim 7 , wherein said surface layer (B) has a thickness of about 0.15 to about 3 μm, and the amount of the carbon nanotubes therein ranges from 2.5 to 5% by weight. 
     
     
         10 . The transfer belt of  claim 7 , wherein said surface layer (B) has a thickness of about 2 to about 25 μm, and the amount of the carbon nanotubes therein ranges from 1 to 2.4% by weight. 
     
     
         11 . The transfer belt of  claim 1 , wherein said transfer belt has a cylindrical form. 
     
     
         12 . A method of preparing a transfer belt for an image forming apparatus comprising coextruding a thermoplastic resin to form a base layer and a thermoplastic resin composite to form a surface layer using an extruder equipped with a ring die wherein said thermoplastic resin composite includes carbon nanotubes dispersed therein. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said thermoplastic resin composite comprises about 95 to about 99.9% by weight of a thermoplastic resin and about 0.1 to about 5% by weight of said carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         14 . A transparent film comprising (A) a base layer comprising a thermoplastic resin; and (B) a surface layer comprising a thermoplastic resin composite comprising carbon nanotubes dispersed therein, wherein said film has a cylindrical form. 
     
     
         15 . The transparent film of  claim 14 , wherein said surface layer (B) comprises about 95 to about 99.9% by weight of the thermoplastic resin and about 0.1 to about 5% by weight of the carbon nanotubes. 
     
     
         16 . The transparent film of  claim 14 , wherein said carbon nanotubes have a diameter of about 0.5 to about 100 nm, a length of about 0.01 to about 100 μm, and an aspect ratio of about 100 to about 1,000. 
     
     
         17 . The transparent film of  claim 14 , wherein said thermoplastic resin of said base layer and said surface layer independently comprises a polyolefin resin, polyacetal resin, acrylic resin, polymethacrylic resin, polycarbonate resin, styrenic resin, polyester resin, polyphenylene ether resin, polyarylate resin, polyamide resin, polyarylsulfone resin, polyetherimide resin, polyethersulfone resin, vinylidene fluoride resin, polysulfone resin, liquid crystal polymer resin, a copolymer thereof or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         18 . The transparent film of  claim 14 , wherein said thermoplastic resin further comprises at least one additive selected from the group consisting of reaction stabilizers, transesterification inhibitors, UV absorbing agents, thermal stabilizers, antioxidants, flame retardants, lubricants, pigments, dyes, inorganic fillers, plasticizers, impact modifiers, and combinations thereof.